Friday, July 10, 2009

Michael Jackson's Body Located, Family Bickers Over Money


Michael Jackson's family is bitterly divided over how best to profit off his remains -- so his body has been stashed in Berry Gordy's crypt until the family stops bickering, The Post has learned.

His remains were brought back to the white marble, above-ground crypt the Motown record-label founder bought for his family in the Court of Remembrance section of the sprawling, celeb-filled Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.

Aside from Jackson, the simple mausoleum is empty and marked only with a distinctive swooping letter "G."

Gordy -- who discovered the Jackson 5 -- offered the family use of the crypt until they sort out what to do with the superstar's remains, sources said.

On one side are Jackson's brother Jermaine and father, Joseph, who are insistent the Gloved One be buried at Neverland Ranch so the family can profit off a proposed Graceland-style museum there -- a process that could take years.

On the other are Jackson's mother, Katherine, and most of the rest of the siblings, who want his body laid to rest elsewhere out of respect for his wish, following his acquittal on child-molestation charges, to never return to Neverland.

"Jermaine is the one that wants him at Neverland -- he and Joseph -- because of the whole Elvis thing and the money potential," a family source said. "They are seeing dollar signs."

Her son's physical purgatory has left Katherine shaken.

"She is still upset that Michael isn't buried and he is at Gordy's spot in Forest Lawn, the source told the Post. "This fighting has to stop. We can never unite, and that's an injustice."

The fight had become so contentious that Jermaine rode in a separate Rolls-Royce limousine to Jacko's public memorial at Los Angeles' Staples Center, even though his mother had wanted all the brothers to ride together, the source said.

But the fight hasn't stopped the family from agreeing on other ways to turn Jackson's death into a financial boon.

Most of the kids and Katherine are onboard with a proposed documentary about the family that could bring in $20 million, the source said.

"They're doing this documentary because with the kids, they will get $20 million," the source said, adding Katherine is pushing all her children to be a part of it.

But if Jermaine and Joseph Jackson prevail, it would be a long legal road -- permits would be needed -- before a Graceland-like museum could be built at Jackson's one-time fantasyland home north of Santa Barbara.

Update: 6pm
Berry Gordan says Michael's body is not in his crypt.
"I can assure you it is absolutely incorrect," his spokeswoman said. "[Michael Jackson's body] is not there."

We're not completely buying it, however. If Berry were to say "yes," Michael Jackson's body is there, that will only assure that body-snatchers - or the paparrazzi - would descend upon the grave yard.



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